Charging flap module for an energy supply port of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging flap module for an energy supply port of a motor vehicle. In particular, such a charging flap module is known, which has a basic housing that can be fixedly mounted on the vehicle and surrounds the energy supply port in the mounted state, and a charging flap that is movably supported relative to the basic housing between a closed position that closes an energy supply opening of the basic housing and a release position that releases the energy supply opening, and a control mechanism supported on the basic housing, which is configured for displacement of the charging flap between the closed position and the release position, and the charging flap is associated with an additional locking device. The locking device has at least two locking elements that are spaced apart from each other and that, in the closed position of the charging flap, interact in a form-fitting manner with at least two complementary counterpart elements in the region of the charging flap so that the charging flap is blocked in a form-fitting manner relative to the basic housing at at least two locking points that are largely opposite to each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a charging flap module for an energy supply port of a motor vehicle, comprising a basic housing that can be fixedly mounted on the vehicle, the basic housing surrounding the energy supply port in the mounted state, and a charging flap that is movably supported relative to the basic housing between a closed position for closing an energy supply opening of the basic housing and a released position for releasing the energy supply opening, and a control mechanism supported on the basic housing, which is configured for displacement of the charging flap between the closed position and the released position, wherein the charging flap is associated with an additional locking device. Background Art

[0002] Such a charging flap module is known from DE 10 2019 128 551 A1. The known charging flap module is provided not only as an energy supply port for a motor vehicle in the form of a fuel filler neck but also as an energy supply port in the form of a charging port. The charging flap module has a charging flap which is supported so as to be pivotable relative to a basic housing by means of a gooseneck and which protrudes outwardly from the basic housing in a released position. In the closed position, the charging flap closes the energy supply opening of the basic housing. The charging flap can also be additionally blocked in its closed position by means of a locking device in order to prevent unauthorized opening of the charging flap.

[0003] Other charging flap modules are generally known as tank flap modules in the area of ​​the tank filler neck of a passenger car. The tank filler neck is used for filling with fuel in order to supply energy to the combustion engine of the passenger car. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to create a charging flap module of the type mentioned at the outset which, using simple means, enables permanent locking of the charging flap on the base housing in its closed position.

[0005] This object is solved in the following manner, that is, the locking device has at least two locking elements spaced apart from each other, which in the closed position of the charging flap cooperate with at least two complementary counterpart elements in the region of the charging flap in a form-fitting manner so that the charging flap is blocked in a form-fitting manner relative to the basic housing at at least two locking points that are at least largely opposite to each other. In the prior art known from DE 10 2019 128 551 A1, the charging flap is only stopped relative to the basic housing in the region of a single locking point. As a result, the energy supply opening is not ensured to be closed flushly and continuously by the charging flap. Therefore, the surrounding seal of the energy supply opening can press the charging flap outward again to a certain extent at a position away from a single locking point, thereby not ensuring that the charging flap is closed flush with the surrounding vehicle body surface. In addition to the intrusion of moisture due to possible non-tightness, wind noise can occur between the outer layer of the vehicle body and the charging flap in the closed position during the driving operation of the corresponding motor vehicle. The solution according to the invention avoids the above disadvantages by providing at least two locking points that are at least largely opposite to each other, which lock the charging flap in a form-fitting manner relative to the basic housing on opposite sides. This allows the outer side of the charging flap to be continuously and flushly integrated into the outer layer of the vehicle body. In addition, when the charging flap is in the closed position, a surrounding seal is obtained that presses the edge of the energy supply opening of the basic housing at least largely evenly, thereby also ensuring sufficient sealing in the area of ​​the energy supply opening. The solution according to the invention is suitable not only for energy supply ports in the form of fuel pipe connections but also for energy supply ports in the form of current ports. Both energy supply ports are used for the energy supply of the travel drive of the motor vehicle.

[0006] In the design of the present invention, the at least two locking elements are fixedly connected to the movably supported operating member of the locking device. Through the fixed connection, the displacement of the operating member necessarily causes the displacement of the at least two locking elements. The locking element can be manufactured separately and then fixed to the operating member or molded on the operating member in one piece.

[0007] In another embodiment of the present invention, the operating member is movably supported on the basic housing between the locking position and the opening position. Preferably, the operating member is linearly supported on the basic housing. Advantageously, the operating member is designed as a single piece and is implemented in particular as a rod-type profile in the form of a shape-stable longitudinal profile.

[0008] In another embodiment of the present invention, an adjustment drive is associated with the operating member for displacement of the operating member between the locked position and the open position. The adjustment drive can be implemented pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically and preferably forms a linear adjustment drive. In the same way, it is possible to implement the adjustment drive as a mechanical spring drive (Federantrieb, sometimes also called a spring drive). It is also possible to associate a mechanical return spring with the adjustment drive in the adjustment direction and an electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic drive in the opposite adjustment direction.

[0009] In a further embodiment of the invention, the locking element is designed as a locking pin and the complementary counterpart element is designed as a pin receptacle in the region of the charging flap. The solution according to the invention provides, in principle, that the locking element and the complementary counterpart element are provided as locking profiles that interact with each other in a form-fitting manner, wherein either the locking element or the counterpart element can be designed as a male locking profile and the complementary counterpart element or the locking element can be designed as a female locking profile accordingly. In this embodiment, the locking element in the form of a locking pin is designed as a male locking profile and the complementary counterpart element in the form of a pin receptacle is designed as a female locking profile.

[0010] In another embodiment of the present invention, at least one pin receptacle and / or at least one further pin receptacle on the underside of the charging flap is arranged on the control mechanism of the charging flap. Therefore, the corresponding locking profile does not have to be arranged directly on the charging flap. On the contrary, the connection with the charging flap can also be achieved in the following way, that is, at least one locking profile is arranged on a component (such as the control mechanism in the present invention) that is fixedly connected to the charging flap.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the invention, the control device has a gooseneck connection which is supported on one side on the base housing and fastened on the other side to the charging flap. As a result, the charging flap can be pivoted between a closed position which lies flush with the energy supply opening of the base housing and a released position in which the charging flap protrudes outwards relative to the base housing and relative to the outer skin of the vehicle body.

[0012] In another embodiment of the present invention, at least one pin receptacle is provided on the gooseneck connector. The gooseneck connector serves as a control mechanism in the sense of the present invention. Due to the fixed connection between the charging flap and the gooseneck connector, locking the gooseneck connector necessarily also ensures the locking of the charging flap.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the control mechanism is associated with a drive device in order to actuate the control mechanism for transferring the charging flap between the closed position and the release position. If the control mechanism is implemented as a gooseneck joint, the drive device is designed as a swing drive for the gooseneck joint. The drive device is preferably implemented electrically. However, it can also be designed pneumatically or hydraulically and / or constructed as a mechanical spring motor (Federmotor, sometimes also called spring drive) in the swinging direction.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, an electronic control unit is provided, which is coupled to an adjustment drive for the operating member and to a drive for the charging flap in such a way that the charging flap is moved only after the operating member has been successfully transferred into the open position and the return of the operating member into the locked position takes place after the charging flap has been successfully transferred into the closed position. The electronic control unit coordinates with the adjustment drive and the drive in such a way that mutual obstruction of the corresponding drive movements of the adjustment drive and the drive is avoided. The adjustment drive and the drive are preferably provided in an electronic embodiment when controlled by the electronic control unit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Further advantages and features of the invention emerge from the claims and from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated with the aid of the drawings.

[0016] Figure 1 The embodiment of the charging flap module according to the present invention is shown in a perspective exploded view.

[0017] Figure 2 From other perspectives, it shows Figure 1 The charging flip module,

[0018] Figure 3 The enlarged diagram shows the Figure 1 and 2 A side view of the operating member of the charging flip module and

[0019] Figure 4 The perspective diagram shows the Figure 3 The control component. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] according to Figures 1 to 4The charging flap module 1 is provided for use in a motor vehicle with an electric driving drive. The charging flap module 1 is provided to be installed on the vehicle side in the region of a charging port of the motor vehicle. The charging port has a plug connector for connecting a charging plug of a charging station. A recess in which the charging port is positioned is provided in the region of the outer layer of the vehicle body at the height of the charging port. The recess is associated with the charging flap module 1, wherein a basic housing 2 of the charging flap module 1 is fixed to a load-bearing structural member of the vehicle body. In its closed position, the charging flap 3 of the charging flap module 1 ends flush with the outer layer of the vehicle body in the installed state of the charging flap module 1 and is arranged centered in the recess in the outer layer of the vehicle body in order to obtain the same gap size between the edge of the charging flap 3 and the edge of the recess in the outer layer of the vehicle body.

[0021] The basic housing 2 is made of plastic in a dimensionally stable manner and has a plurality of housing sections 7, 8, 9, which are described in further detail below. The charging flap 3 is fixedly connected in the region of its lower side to a gooseneck connector 6 serving as a control mechanism in a manner not further shown. The gooseneck connector 6 is supported on the basic housing 2 in a manner not further shown about a swivel axis in the region of the housing section 9 of the basic housing 2. A drive device is arranged in the housing section 9 in a manner not further shown, which serves as a swivel drive for the gooseneck connector 6. The drive device is implemented as a swivel drive formed by an electric motor, which acts on the gooseneck connector 6 by means of a transmission mechanism. The swivel of the gooseneck connector 6 causes the charging flap 3, which is fixedly connected to the gooseneck connector 6, to be supported so as to be swivelable between a closed position and a released position. In the closed position, the charging flap 3 seals the energy supply opening in the basic housing 2 in a sealing manner, which in the Figure 1 and 2 No further markings are given in the figure. The edge of the energy supply opening or the charging flap 3 has a circumferential seal which is elastically compressed in the closed position of the charging flap 3. In the released position, the charging flap 3 together with the gooseneck connector 6 is pivoted outwards relative to the outer layer of the vehicle body, wherein the charging flap 3 in the released position preferably protrudes outwards approximately perpendicularly to the outer layer of the vehicle body. The gooseneck connector 6 is protected within the basic housing 2 by an arched housing section 8 which is detachably connected to the basic housing 2. With the aid of Figure 1 and 2 An exploded view of the housing section 8 is shown separated from the main housing 2 .

[0022] In its closed position, the charging flap 3 is positively locked relative to the base housing 2 in addition to the drive acting on the gooseneck connection 6 by means of a locking device, as described below.

[0023] If with the help of Figure 2As can be seen, the swivel drive arranged in the housing section 9 is arranged at least partially laterally next to the swivel path of the gooseneck joint 6. On the side opposite the housing section 9 to the gooseneck joint 6, the base housing 2 has a housing section 7 in which an adjustment drive for an actuating member 4 is arranged for positive locking of the charging flap 3 relative to the base housing 2. The actuating member 4, which is Figure 3 and Figure 4 It can be clearly seen that the longitudinal profile is designed to be stable in shape and is provided with a notch for reasons of weight. Figure 3 and 4 At the right end in the middle, an adjustment piston 15 is provided, on which an adjustment drive located in the housing section 7 acts, so that the operating member 4 can move in the longitudinal direction along the basic housing 2 in the opposite adjustment direction. The adjustment drive is also implemented electrically in the housing section 7. The operating member 4 is supported and held on the basic housing 2 in a linearly movable manner by means of a linear guide 5 molded on the basic housing 2. The operating member 4 has two locking elements 10a and 11a spaced apart from each other, which are each implemented as a locking pin. In the area of ​​the lower side of the charging flap 3, a complementary counterpart element 14 is provided for the locking element 11a, which has a pin receptacle, into which the locking element 11a sinks in a form-fitting manner during the corresponding displacement movement of the operating member 4. The locking element 10a cooperates with a counterpart element in the form of a pin receptacle 12 at the gooseneck joint 6, wherein the locking element 10a sinks through a recess 13 in the housing section 8 of the basic housing 2 before sinking into the pin receptacle 12. In its locked position, the locking element 10 a is also received in a form-fitting manner in a counter element 12 of the gooseneck joint 6 , which serves as a pin receptacle.

[0024] If with the help of Figure 1 and 2 As can be seen, the actuating member 4 extends over almost the entire length of the energy supply opening of the base housing 2 and thus over almost the entire length of the charging flap 3. A linear guide 5 for linearly movably mounting the actuating member 4 is provided in the region of a side wall of the base housing 2. The base housing 2 is provided with a passage (not further designated) in the region of the locking element 11a, through which the locking element 11a in its locked position projects into the interior of the base housing 2 and there sinks into a pin receptacle of a counter element 14 of the charging flap 3.

[0025] The locking element 11a is arranged at the end region of the operating member 4 that is curved in an arc shape and is away from the piston section 15, wherein the locking element 11a designed as a locking pin is designed to protrude back in the direction of the piston section 15 in the manner of a hook parallel to the longitudinal extension of the operating member 4. The curved end region of the operating member 4 is bent into a quarter circle relative to the straight main part of the operating member 4. The locking element 11a protrudes vertically inwards from the end 11 thus formed, that is, parallel to the main part of the operating member 4. In addition, a support projection 10 protrudes downward from the main part of the operating member 4 at a small distance relative to the piston section 15, and a second locking element 10a is molded on it. The second locking element 10a, which forms a second locking pin, is bent in the manner of a hook in the extension of the support projection 10 so that the locking element 10a extends parallel to the first locking element 11a and protrudes freely in the same direction as the first locking element 11a.

[0026] Therefore, in the linear displacement of the operating member 4, the locking elements 10a and 11a integrally molded on the operating member 4 are necessarily also displaced in the same direction, so that the linear movement of the operating member 4 is not necessarily displaced in the same direction according to Figure 1 , the locking elements 11a and 10a move to the left in the illustration of the basic housing 2 and out of the recess 13 in the housing section 8 and thus release the pin receptacles at the mating elements 14 and 12. The correspondingly opposite movement of the actuating member 4, which is produced by the adjustment drive, again results in the locking of the charging flap 3 in the closed position in the opposite way, since the locking element 11a sinks into the pin receptacle of the mating element 14 of the charging flap 3 and the locking element 10a sinks through the recess 13 of the housing section 8 into the pin receptacle 12 of the gooseneck connector 6. The actuating member 5 can be designed as a plastic component or as a metal component. In the case of a metal component, the actuating member 5 is preferably manufactured from a light metal alloy.

[0027] In order to prevent the swivel drive for swinging the charging flap 3 open or swinging it closed from being activated, the swivel drive for the gooseneck connector 6 and the adjustment drive for the operating member 4 can be coordinated and controlled via an electronic control unit (not shown) while the charging flap 3 is still locked in its closed position by the operating member 4. Here, the swivel drive is advantageously released only when the adjustment drive has transferred the operating member 4 to the open position of the charging flap 3 that is released for the swivel movement. Conversely, when the swivel drive has already guided the charging flap 3 and the gooseneck connector 6 back to the closed position of the charging flap 3, the activation of the operating member 4 from the open position back to the locked position is then released.

Claims

1. A charging flap module (1) for an energy supply port of a motor vehicle, comprising a basic housing (2) which can be fixedly mounted on the vehicle, the basic housing surrounding the energy supply port in the mounted state, and a charging flap (3) which is movably supported relative to the basic housing (2) between a closed position for closing an energy supply opening of the basic housing (2) and a release position for releasing the energy supply opening, and a control mechanism supported on the basic housing (2), the control mechanism being designed for displacement of the charging flap (3) between the closed position and the release position, wherein the charging flap (3) is associated with an additional locking device, characterized in that The locking device comprises at least two locking elements (10a, 11a) spaced apart from each other, which are fixedly connected to an operating member (4) of the locking device, the operating member (4) being supported on the basic housing (2) so as to be linearly movable between a locking position and an open position, wherein the at least two locking elements (10a, 11a) spaced apart from each other interact in a form-fitting manner with at least two complementary counterpart elements (12, 14) in the region of the charging flap (3) in the closed position of the charging flap (3) so that the charging flap (3) is blocked in a form-fitting manner relative to the basic housing (2) at at least two locking points, wherein the at least two locking points are located on opposite sides in the direction of the linear movement of the operating member (4), wherein the at least two locking elements (10a, 11a) spaced apart from each other are parallel to the longitudinal extension of the operating member (4) and protrude freely in the same direction.

2. The charging flip cover module (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: An adjustment drive is associated with the operating member (4) for displacing the operating member (4) between the locking position and the opening position.

3. The charging flip cover module (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least two locking elements (10a, 11a) are integrally molded onto the actuating member (4).

4. The charging flip cover module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The locking element (10a, 11a) is designed as a locking pin and the complementary counterpart element (12, 14) is designed as a pin receptacle in the region of the charging flap (3).

5. The charging flip cover module (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that: At least one pin receptacle on the underside of the charging flap (3) and / or at least one further pin receptacle is arranged on the control mechanism of the charging flap (3).

6. The charging flip cover module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The control device has a gooseneck connection (6) which is supported on one side on the base housing (2) and is fastened on the other side to the charging flap (3).

7. The charging flip cover module (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that: At least one pin receiving portion is provided at the gooseneck joint.

8. The charging flip cover module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The control mechanism is associated with a drive device in order to actuate the control mechanism for transferring the charging flap (3) between the closed position and the released position.

9. The charging flip cover module (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that: The control mechanism is associated with a drive device in order to operate the control mechanism for transferring the charging flap (3) between the closed position and the released position, wherein an electronic control unit is provided, which is coupled to the adjustment drive device for the operating member (4) and to the drive device for the charging flap (3) in such a way that the movement of the charging flap (3) takes place only after the operating member (4) has been successfully transferred to the open position and the guiding back of the operating member (4) to the locking position takes place after the charging flap (3) has been successfully transferred to the closed position.

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